Liquid-fuel burner



Febfl's, 1923.

A. W. SOUTHEY.

LIQUID FUEL BURNER.

FILED MA I4, I922.

fatented Feb. 13, 1923.

ALFRED WILLIAM SOUTHEY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

LIQUID-rust BURNER.

Application filed March 14, 1922. Serial No. 543,545.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED WILLIAM SOUTHEY, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at London, En land, have invented certain new and use ul Improvements in Liquid-Fuel Burners, of which the following is a specifica tion.

This invention relates to improvements in burners for liquid hydrocarbon fuels, such, for example, as paraffin. The burner is one which is suitable particularly for use in cooking stoves, but is also suitable for other heating purposes, and also for lighting, if used with an incandescing body.

One of the objects of the invention is to obtain a high temperature flame for heating purposes in a self contained apparatus working under natural draught.

Other objects of the invention are to obtain the utmost calorific value from the fuel and, what is particularly important for a burner used for cooking, to obtain a flame which will give no smell and with which no free oil vapour is allowed to escape which mightcause the food being cooked to smell. or taste of oil.

According to the present invention there is complete combustion of a small portion of the liquid fuel which is held in a wick, by means of which combustion another portion of the fuel in the wick is vapourized.

The vapour thus produced is very dense and liable to condense and in order to cause it to mix easily with air for its complete combustion its density must be reduced.

The density of the vapour may be re 7 duced by mixing a small portion of air with the vapour immediately it is generated when it is the highest temperature and this mix. ture of vapour and air can afterwards be mixed with additional air without condensation taking place.

The present invention accordingly consists in providing a burner for liquid hydrocarbon fuel. comprising a wick to which liquid fuel is supplied, confining the flame burning on said wick to a part only of the exposed portion of the wick, so as to reduce the volurns of the products of combustion andso that a. further portion of the exposed wick is left from which, owing to the heat of the flame, dense liquid hydrocarbon vapour is given off, and providing means for diluting this vapour with air and for conveying the mixture to a point Where it can be ignited and burnt as a Bunsen flame.

The flame is preferably kept to the lower part of the exposed wick, and the admission of air just above the flame reduces the draught acting on the flame and so helps to keep down the size of the flame and consequently the products of combustion.

The means provided for diluting the vapour are accordingly such as will not causethe flame on the wick to spread unduly.

The invention further consists in conducting the mixture of vapour and air into the lower end of a tube to which additional air is admitted. This additional air may be admitted through openings at the lower end of the tube surrounding the opening through which the mixture enters the tube.

The invention further consists in the means described below for eflecting these objects.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which an improved burner suitable for use in a cooking stove is shown in sectional elevation.

1 is an ordinary oil container in which is suitably mounted a fixed sleeve 2. Within this sleeve there is arranged to slide a second. sleeve 3 capable of being lowered and raised by means of an ordinary rack and pinion device t operated by a thumb disc.

The sleeve 3 contains the tubular wick 5 which fits closely within the sleeve and is adapted to rise and fall with it. Within the tubular wick 5 is slid a metal sleeve 6 'which serves for keeping the tubular wick in position and shape and the wick with its internal sleeve 6 will be raised and lowered with the sleeve 3. The upper portion of the wick it will be seen extends above the sleeve 3 so that for part of its length the outside of the wick 5 is exposed.

Extending inwardly from the bottom of the sleeve 3 is an arm 7 on which is rigidly mounted a tube 8, Within thistube lies a spindle 9 which carries near its upper end a horizontal disc 10 which when the burner is assembled. rests upon the top of the tubular wiclr 53. The upper end of the spindle 9 is threaded and on to it is screwed the boss ll of a iilll.'08li.1l18ll spider 2jwhich carries the upper portion oi the burner. This consists of a Bunsen tube 13 across the upper end of which is lined perforated.- metal plate or plates The perforated plate 14:

is preferably made in known .inauner of three layers of metal with the perforations coinciding); this construction servingto ensure that the heat of the flame which is lighted. above the plate 14!: will not raise the temperature of the plate to suchan extent that the flame will light back into the tube On the lower end of the tube 1.3is carried the flame restrictingineans 1,5 which in the construction illustrated is int-he forniof a truncated conical body of nie-t'al'open at its lowerend and having}; p tions 18 near its narrow end. This conical li'iody car ried upon tholower end of the tubel3 by means of aperforated metal part compris ing a perforated cylindrical portion 16 and a perforated annular portion 'l'ltixcd to the tube, 13,, and forming an. internal flange.

The tube '13 with the attached parts l5. 16, 1'4". '9 and 10 may be removed from. the

remainder. of the burner and to ia .:ilitate replacement the upper portion of the tube 8 is fitted. with a tunnel shaped mouth 8. For extinguishino the flame a cap. 19 may be provided which fits over the upper. end 01 the tube 13; i

The operation of the burner. is as fol lows:The tube. 13 and theatinched parts are removed by hand or they uni-y be raised a suflicient distance by re. rug the sleeve the Wick within it), so that the upper portion of the wickv can be lit. Uponthc upper portioi'i of the bur-ner-bcing replacedso that the disc 10 rests upon the top of the wick (or upon the sleeve 3: being;- lowcred) it will be found that the divine is confincd to a na :ow zoneouthc exposed per tion oi the ck just above the edge of; the sleeve 3. rn' ,3 use the-open end 0 A i the flame m Th re d the lower po and the b st pour 1on1; pond pot tlOHO'f the wick. Air entersby hepertv tions 18 at the top ot'the conical bony l5 and also through the perforations inthe cylindrical part 16 and mixes with the hot vapour. so that-a mixture of oil vapour, air and the gases of couilnistion.from-the flame belowrise through. the restricted passage betivee hecylindrical pert 161 andt-he-outthe Wick; 5:.- and pass, into... the le .wer

end of the tube 13. The jicrto'atcd conical bodies 15 and 16 provide for the dilution of the vapour, without allowing;- the flame on. the wick to spread unduly.

Further air is admitted through the pertorations in the annular disc 11'? and the mixture rising from the wick expands and mixes with this additional air and rises in the tube 13 and can be lit and will burn with a clear blue flame above the perforated plate 14.

hen the lamp is to be extinguished. it is desirable to lowerthe sleeve 3 containing the wick 5 by means of the rack and pinion 4.: and when the flame-is uhnost extinguished by this operation the cap 19 may beplaced upon the upper end of the tube-l3. I

The flame produced above theupper end of the tube'l3 is an intensely hot flame and burns entirely free from smell and no vapour of oil rises with it, sothat the upper end of the burner may be placed below. an

pening in the bottom of an oven, ton example, and the flame may enter the oven space and food-may be cooked. by the heat within the oven without acquiring any taste or smell from the oil.

Havingthus described; my in vent-ioi'i, iv-hat I claim and desire toprctcct by Letters Pat-- out is:

1. In a liq'iiiid hydrocarbon burner, the combiiultion of a wick, means supporting the nick and exposing a section thereof on Which the liquid fuel can be ignited, means for sup plying; air to the exposed section of the wick in sufficient quantity to support a flame on a portion only of said exposed section, the

heat of such flaine effecting vaporization of the liquid fuel in the remainder of the e poscd section of the Wick, and a mixing chamber receiving said vapor and. having a burner outlet. 7

Q. in a liquid hydrocarbon burner, the combination of a wick, means supporting the wick and. exposing a section thereof on which the liquid fuel can be ignited, means surroundingthe. exposedsection of the Wick and rcstrictingthe admission of air there- ;hat the flame oi. ignited fuel will be a portion only of. the expose in l at of such han'ie eliouid fuel in Wicli outside of mixing; chamber positioned id vapor and laying a burner outlet, and. means for supplying air ticsaid chamber.

3. In a liquid hydrocarbon burner, the combination oi. a wicl-c, means supporting lillCflVlCk and exposing a sectionthe-reofon which the liquid fuel can be ignited, means permitting access of air. to theexposed -sec tion of the wick sufliciently to. support. a flame in. the lower portionouly of said see;

tion when the liquid fuel is ignited, the heat of such flame effecting vaporization of the liquid fuel in the exposed section of the wick above the flame area, and a mixing chamber receiving said vapor and having a burner outlet.

4. In a liquid hydrocarbon burner, the combination of a wick, means supporting the wick and exposing a section thereof on which the liquid fuel can be ignited, means adapted to confine the flame of the ignited fuel to a portion only of the exposed wick section, means adapted to supply air in restricted amount to the portion of the exposed section of the wick where there is no flame, a mixing chamber arranged toreceive said air and vapor generated in the exposed section of the wick by the flame and provided with a burner outlet, and means for supplying additional air to said chamber.

5. In a liquid hydrocarbon burner, the combination of a wick, means supporting the wick and exposing a section thereof on which the liquid fuel can be ignited, means adapted to confine the flame of the ignited fuel to a portion only of the exposed wick section, means adapted to supply air in restricted amount to the portion of the ex posed section of the wick where there is no flame, a mixing chamber arranged to receive said air and vapor generated in the exposed section of the wick by the flame and provided with a burner outlet at its upper end, and means for supplying additional air to the lower end of the mixing chamber.

6. In a liquid hydrocarbon burner, the combination of a Wick, means supporting the wick and exposing a section thereof on! which the liquid fuel can be ignited, means adapted to confine the flame ofthe ignited fuel to a portion. only of the exposed wick section, means adapted to supply air in restricted amount to the portion of the exposed section of the wick above the flame area, and a mixing chamber arranged to receive said air, products of combustion from the flame and vapor generated by the heat of the flame on the wick outside of the flame area, said chamber having a burner outlet,

'7, In a burner for liquid hydrocarbons, wick upon an exposed portion of which the liquid fuel can be ignited, means adapted to confine the flame of the ignited fuel to the lower portion only of the exposed wick, means adapted to admit air in restricted quantity to the portion of the exposed wick above the flame and a mixing chamber into which the mixed vapour and air are drawn and at the top of which the mixture burnt.

8. In a burner for liquid hydrocarbons, a wick, a screen surrounding said wick, and under the lower edge of which air can pass to the wick and through part of which further air can pass to the wick, said screen being of such size as to leave only a restricted passage between it and the wick, and a mixing chamber above said wick and screen.

9. In a burner for liquid hydrocarbons, a wick, a screen having a conical portion surrounding said Wick, under the lower edge of which air can pass to the wick and through part of which further air can pass to, the wick, said screen being of such size as to leave only a restricted passage between it and the wick, and a mixing chamber above said wick and screen.

10. In a burner for liquid hydrocarbons, a wick, a screen surrounding said wick, and under the lower edge of which air can pass to the wick and a cylindrical portion through which further air can pass to the wick, said screen being of such size as to leave only a restricted passage between it and the wick, and a mixing chamber above said wick and screen.

11. In a burner for liquid hydrocarbons, a wick, means surrounding said wick and adapted to allow access of air to one portion of the wick to a suflicient degree to support combustion and to another portion of the wick to an insuflicient degree to support combustion, a mixing chamber above said wick having apertures at the lower end through which the air has access to the interior of the mixing chamber.

12. In a burner for liquid hydrocarbons,

the combination of a liquid receptacle, u

vertically adjustable wick tube connected to the receptacle, a wick extending throughout the length of and projecting above and below the wick tube, a tube supported above the wick and provided with a burner outlot, and a screen. depending from the last said tube and surrounding the exposed per tion of the wick above the wick tube, said screen having a perforated section adjacent its upper end, for the purpose described.

13. In a burner for liquid hydrocarbons, the combination of a liquid receptacle, a vertically adjustable wick tube connected to the receptacle, a Wick carried by the wick tube and extending beyond the upper end thereof, mixing chamber supported at the upper end of the wick and provided with a burner outlet, said chamber having series of air inlets at its lower end, and means surroundthe portion of the wick above the wick tube for limiting the flame produced by lighting fluid on the exposed portion. of the wick to the lower section of such exposed section and conducting vapor generated in the upper section of the exposed portion of the wick by said flame to the mixing chamber. 14. In a burner for liquid hydrocarbons, the combination of a liquid receptacle, a vertically adjustable wick tube connected to the receptacle, a wick carried by the wick tube and extending beyond the upper end thereof a tube Within the Wick and extending to the upper end thereof, a mixing chamber sup? ported on the upper end of the inner Wick tube and provided with a burner outlet, Said chamber being provided with air inlets at its lower end, and a screen connected with the mixing chamber and depending therefrom about the. portion of the Wick that ex- 10 tends above the outer. Wick tube, said. screen having a perforated section adjacent its up" per end andv forming about the Wick a passage leading to the mixing chamber, for the purpose described.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set 15 my hand this 28th day of February 1922.

ALFRED WILLIAM SOUIHE Y. Witnesses:

JAMES. G. GRANT, LOVELL U. REDDIRE. 

